Late Antique

Old St. Peter’s Basilica

Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs

Samuel Anoints David

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

Edict of Milan

Proclamation issued by constantine and Licinius that granted religious tolerance to Christians and other faiths within the Roman Empire

Mystery Cults

Religious groups that were secretive and involved initiation rites

Torah

Law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures

New Testament

Second part of the Christ Bible; recording the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his earliest followers

Evangelists

4 authors of the bible

Matthew

Winged man or angel → Jesus’ incarnation and human nature

Mark

Winged lion → courage and monarchy

Luke

Ox → sacrificial nature of Jesus’ ministry

John

Winged eagle → his visions and heavenly opening of his gospel

Orant

Figure in a posture of prayer → standing with outstretched arms

Lunette

Arched aperture or window

Apse

Large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church. Containing the altar.

Transept

Enter the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.

Narthex

Antechamber, porch, or distinct area at the western entrance of some early Christian churches, separated off by a railing.

Aisles

Passage between rows of seats in a building

Nave

Central part of a church building

Atrium

Open courtyard at the entrance of a church

Chi Rho

Christian symbol that is a combination of the first two letters of the Greek words for Christ. Symbol of faith and identity and is often used to represent the divine nature of a Christ and his role in salvation.

Tetrarchy

Form of government where power is divided among four people

Putto/putti

Representation of a naked child, especially a cherub or a cupid in Renaissance art.

Liturgy

Form or formulating according to which public religious worship is conducted

Catacombs

Underground cemetery consisting of a subterranean gallery with recesses for tombs

Menorahs, stars, tablets, arc of the covenant, torah, and hebrew script

Aniconic representations for Judaism

Cross and fish

Aniconic representation for Christianity

Constantine

One of the last equestrian monuments of antiquity. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius survives due to his mistaken identity for this Roman Emperor.

Poryphyry

The material of the Portrait of the Four Tetrachs, known for its purple-red appearance, was also associated with imperial patrons.

Mosaic

Patterns or pictures are made by embedding small pieces of stone or glass in cement on surfaces such as walls or floors.

Tesserae

Small pieces of stone or glass used in mosaics